Ten Things Parents Wish Teachers Would Do
1. Build students' self-esteem
by using praise generously, and avoiding ridicule and negative public criticism.
2. Get to know each child's needs,
interests, and special talents, as well as the way each child learns best.
3. Communicate often and openly with parents,
contacting them early about academic or behavioral problems, being candid rather than
defensive when discussing these problems.
4. Regularly assign homework that helps children learn,
and advise parents how they can work with their children on this homework.
5. Set high academic standards,
expecting all students to learn and helping them to do so.
6. Care about children,
since children learn best when taught by warm, friendly, caring, and enthusiastic
teachers.
7. Treat all children fairly
and do not play favorites.
8. Enforce a positive discipline code
based on clear and fair rules that are established and fully explained at the beginning
of the school year -- reinforce positive behavior as well as punish negative behavior.
9. Be aware of students' different learning styles
and vary teaching methods to help each child achieve success.
10. Encourage parent participation
by reaching out to Involve parents in their children's education. Show parents how they can help their children at home
understand that parents want to work with teachers to help their children do their
best.
Ten Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do
1. Be Involved In their children's education.
Parent involvement helps students learn, Improves schools, and makes teachers' jobs
easier.
2. Provide resources at home for reading and learning.
Parents should have books and magazines for their children and read with their children
each day.
3. Set a good example.
Parents should show their children that they believe reading is enjoyable and useful.
4. Encourage children to do their best In school.
In order to prevent stress, children should be helped to set obtainable goals and
avoid over-involvement in too many activities.
5. Academics should be parents' first concern,
then their children's preparation for the world of work and involvement in athletics
and activities.
6. Support school rides and goals.
Parents should take care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals.
7. Use pressure positively
. Parents should encourage children to do their best, but they should not apply too
much pressure by setting unobtainable goals, or by involving them In too many activities.
8. Call teachers as soon as a problem becomes apparent
so prompt action can be taken.
9. Exercise parental responsibility
and not expect the school and teachers to take over this job. For example, teaching
basic discipline is a parental rather than a school responsibility.
10. Understand that alcohol and excessive partying are problems as serious as drug abuse.
All these take a serious toll on a student's health and classroom performance.
(Adapted from
The National PTA Talks to Parents. Reprinted with permission from Doubleday.)
California State PTA Parents Empowering Parents
THE CLARION, February, 1998, Page 7
Author: John Healy email: <Room423@aol.com>
Last Updated: Sun, Feb 15, 1998 10:15 PM PST